PhotoPasal: October 2008

February 1988: Sachin Tendulkar, 14, and Vinod Kambli, 16 compile a 664-run unbroken partnership for Shardashram Vidyamandir against St Xavier's at Azad Maidan. Kambli makes 349 not out, Tendulkar 326 not out.

December 1988: At 15, scores an unbeaten century against Gujarat at the Wankhede Stadium to become the youngest Indian to make a hundred on first-class debut.

December 1989: Picked for the Pakistan series where he scores 57 on the last day of the last Test in Sialkot.

August 1990: At 17 years and 112 days, becomes the then second-youngest centurion in Test history. He hit 119 not out against England at Old Trafford.

February 1992: Hits a brilliant 114 at WACA as India is reduced at one stage to 159 for eight. Terms it his favourite Test knock.

April 1992: Becomes the first overseas signing for English county Yorkshire.

November 1992: At 19 years and 217 days, becomes the youngest player to reach 1000 Test runs, during his 111 out of India's 227 against South Africa in Johannesburg.

February 1993: Scores his first Test century at home - 165 vs England in Madras, now Chennai.

November 1993: Bowls India to the Hero Cup final as he bowls the last over against South Africa in the semi-final with the Proteas needing six to win.

March 1994: Opens in an ODI for the first time - against New Zealand. Goes on to make 82, off 49 balls.

October, 1995: Signs a five-year contract worth Rs 31.5 crore with WorldTel - becomes the richest cricketer in the world.

February-March 1996: Scores 523 runs at 87.16 in the World Cup -scores two centuries and three half-centuries.

August 1996: Is named captain of the Indian team, at age 23.

January 1998: Is sacked from captaincy after a 15-month tenure during which India won three out of 17 Tests.

February-March 1998: Gets his maiden first-class double-hundred and two hundreds and a fifty in three Tests against Australia. India win the home-series 2-1.

April 1998: Scores two blazing, back-to-back hundreds against Australia at Sharjah to help India reach the final of the Coca-Cola Cup and then win it.

July 1999: Is reappointed captain - without his consent - after India, under Mohammad Azharuddin, fail to reach the semifinals of the World Cup in England.

March 2001: Scores a century in a famous decider against Australia as India win the series 2-1, denying Australia the "final frontier".

March 2001: Becomes the first player to score 10,000 runs in one-day cricket in the course of his 139 against Australia in Indore.

November 2001: Is cautioned and fined by match referee Mike Denness for trying to "change the condition of the ball" during the Port Elizabeth Test.

December 2001: England's Ashley Giles ties him down with his over-the-stump tactics in the Bangalore Test and is stumped for the first time in his Test career.

August 2002: Overtakes Don Bradman's tally of 29 Test centuries.

September 2002: Becomes the youngest cricketer ever to play 100 Tests. Apart from three Tests due to injury, he has not missed any since his debut, and has played 84 on the trot.

February-March 2003: Scores 673 runs at 61.18 in the World Cup, taking India to within a win of the world crown. Even though Australia are the champions, he is named the Man of the Series.

January 2004: Scores a century without a cover-drive, goes on to get an unbeaten 241 in Sydney. Australia manage to hold on for a draw, and the series ends 1-1.

March 2004: Scores an unbeaten 194 against Pakistan in the Multan Test.

August 2004: Tennis elbow surfaces, during the Videocon Cup in Holland. Misses the Champions Trophy in England, and then the first two home Tests against Australia.

March 2005: Becomes the fifth man to score 10000 Test runs in course of his 52 against Pakistan in Kolkata.

May 2005: Undergoes surgery for the tennis elbow, misses a triangular in Sri Lanka, a tour to Zimbabwe, and the Super Series in Australia.

October 2005: Makes a roaring return to international cricket, with a 93 off 96 balls against Sri Lanka in Nagpur, in India's 350 for 6.

December 2005: Scores 109 against Sri Lanka in Delhi to become the highest centurion in Test cricket, overtaking Sunil Gavaskar's 34.

March 2006: Takes 33 minutes to score 1 run in Mumbai against England. Crowd boos him off after he is dismissed.

March 2006: Goes to England for a surgery on his right shoulder - Misses the one-dayers against England and the tour to West Indies.

September 2006: Makes a stunning comeback, with 141 off 148 balls against West Indies in a DLF Cup ODI in Kuala Lumpur.

May 2007: Is "rested" for the first time in his career, for the three-ODI series in Bangladesh. Scores two centuries in the two following Tests.

August 2007: With 228 runs at 38.00, makes a significant contribution to his first Test-series win outside the subcontinent, as India beat England 1-0 to win the Pataudi Trophy.

January 2008: Scores an unbeaten 154 at the SCG, his first century in more than two years and 19 Tests, against opposition other than Bangladesh.

March 2008: Scores his first ODI century in Australia, in first of the CB Series final. India go on to win the CB series 2-0.

October 2008: Surpasses Brian Lara's record as the highest Test scorer as he reaches 15 in the second Test against Australia at Mohali.